Humidifier



`Ian. 17, 1933. R N, TRANE 1,894,898

HUMIDIFIER Filed Nov'. 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l [127612 fofq MVV/MQ/ Jan. 17, 1933. R N, TRANE 1,894,898

HUMIDIFIER Filed Nov. 8. 192s 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 17, 1933 i v UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE BEUBEN N- TRNE, or LA cnossn, wrswJoNsnTn l Application filed November 8, 1928. Serial No. 318,000.

My invention relates to humidifiers for use Fig. 4 illustrates a section of wick material in combination with air fin type radiators, before folding into a-wick sheet. and an object is to provide an efficient means Fig. 5 illustrates a view of the wicking maf for supplying moisture to theair in the rooms terial after the first operation of folding.

5 containing the radiators. The former type Fig. illustrates aview of the wicking ma- 55 of humidifier was objectionable because it terial after the second operation of folding. consisted yof a-n unsightly object on top of or Fig. 7 illustrates the wicking folded into a connected with an equally unsightly cast iron sheet and supporting legs.' radiator. Another object of my invention is Fig. 8 illustrates-a diagrammatic View of 10 to provide a humidifier which together with part of a heating system showing a method 60 the radiator is contained in an enclosure conof automatically filling the water troughs of cealing both radiator and humidifier from the humidifier. v sight. Fig. 9 illustrates an isometric view of the Another object of my invention is to pr0-- device showing the auxiliary water pan with vide a humidifier which will supply moisture means for filling and emptying the water pan, 65

to the air with a minimum loss of efficiency and a water pan being an integral part of of the radiator. the radiator.

. Another object vof my invention is to pro- Figure 10` is a perspective view of the vide means whereby all the troughs of a huwater pan showing the apertures 12A midifier on any floor. level maybe automatithrough which the wicking legs depend. 70

cally kept filled with water to any desired Referring to Fig. 1, the air fin type radiadegree. tor (l) is composed of a multiplicity of heatv Another object of my invention is to protubes (2) on which are mounted a multiplicvide ahumidifler which will work efficiently ity of fins (3), all of which are contained in connection with a radiator as is describedI in a heat cabinet (4). The heating is done by 75 yin my application No. 104,196 filed April 23,' convection, the cold air being drawn by con- 1926, relating to radiators. vection into the bottom of the heat cabinet Another object of my invention is to pro- A(11) in the direction of the arrows .(5)

vide a humidifier which will remain clean through the fin type radiator and out of the' a maximum length of time. f opening (6) at the top of the heat cabinet 80 Another object of my invention is to prowhich is hinged at vide aparticular shape of wicking which may The humidifier comprising two long parbe easil and readily removedy and replaced. allel troughs (7) and the wicking (8) are The fiill objects and ,advantages of my inmounted on the'air tin type radiator (1), vention will appear in connection with' the preferably on the side walls of the radiator 35 detailed description, and the novel features so as not to interfere withv the flow of air embodied in my inventive idea will be parcurrents through the radiator. The troughs ticularly. pointed out in the claims. (7) may be of any desired length preferably 40 Referring to the drawings which illustrate the length of the radiator and are preferably 90' the application of my invention in one form, narrow to better hold the wicking and deep Fig. 4l of the drawings illustrates anisometric enough to contain sufficient water for evapview of the device having two ofthe walls of oration purposes. "In the method shown in the enclosure or heat cabinet broken away for Fig. 9 the side (11i) of the trough (7) is also the purpose of 'illustrating an isometric view the sideof the air fin radiator (1) which of the humidifier mounted on an air fin type reduces the cost of manufacture and solves 95 radiator and all contained in the enclosure. the problem of attaching the troughs to the Fig. 2 illustrates'an end elevation of the radiator in such manner as not to impede the humidier. flow of air through the radiator.

Fig. 3 illustrates a side elevation of ythe The sheets (9) and the legs (10) are stahumidifier. bilized and held in the same general plane as the lins (3). This may be accomplished in` a number of methods but I prefer to insert thelegs into grooves (31) formed -by the corrugations (32) in the wall of water pan` (7) as shown in Fig. 3. Another method have used is to insert the legs (10) into apertures (12) through a cover (12a) to the trough (7 as shown in Fig.. 9.

The sheets (9) are thus held in an upright position in the same general plane as the tins of the radiator, thereby impeding as little as possible the flow of the' air currents through the heat cabinet and at the same time presenting'a large extended surface to the air currents for the evaporation of moisture.

- y The-,wicking sheets (9) supported-by the eddouble 4on the line CD makin shown as (21) infgv, which is olded on i wickin legs (10) are preferably made'in v l the-.fol owing manner: A' sheet of blotting paper or other absorbent material, shown as in Fig. A, has the square apertures A `and iB cut in the material, which is then olda orm `theli'nes EF and making a form shown u (22) in Fig-6, which irs-further folded on the lines IJ and KL, which is shown as (23) inFig. 7 comprising a wicking sheet y y (39)' and .the legs 10). It willxbe. apparent t at the s eet (59) iscomposed oftwo thick-` 'nessesfof the Wickin" Vmaterial in the form of a sheet and that t e leg'sfar'e composed of four thicknesses ofthe wickin lmaterial and- 1 sup ort the wickingV sheet (9 (10) may again be fo ded to give furmatic la out of a art of a heating system on one r, it wi 'be` observed I have provided for an automatic filling of thewater pans. .A water supply pipe (14) is connected to an auxiliary covered water pan 15), the inflow of the water being controlled by the conventional iioat and'va ve (16).

. The Water pan (15) is on the same level as the water pans inhumidifiers on the same iloor or level so that the rise of Water yin the water an (15) above any predetermined evel will cause the iioat andvalve (16) to shut oil' the water, thus the water pans in the humidiers will belsiept filled `to the level of the water inthe water pan (15) through the have also provided'an overflow pipe (17) to prevent any overflow of water in the water pans in the humidiien I have also pro-y vided a shut-olf Iv'ialvfe (19) to shut oli all water to the water ns.

At the outlet of t pipe (518) in thewater lesses of the sheet. Both the wickpan (15) I have provided an adjustable sleeve' (24) which slides upon the pi e (18) so that upon the lowering or raising ofp the sleeve (24) the level of the water in the pan (15) and also in the waterfpans on the radiators will cor-r respond to the height of the adjustedv sleeve. Another means of adjusting' the level of the water in the water pans on the radiators is by means of the adjustable screws (25),' Fig. 1, which are fastened to-each endsof the bott'om ofthe container (7 or may be adjusted to raise or lower the container (7 in accordance Awith floor levels and to allow for differences in the pitch of floor. Where it is impractical to use the automatic device for iillmg-the water pan (7 ,el have further de-` vised van auxiliary water pan' (26) which is connected withlthe pans (7 by means of the T pipe (27). From the side of the auxiliary pan (26) I have a pipe which' extends outside of the cabinet, the top of which is levelwith the top of the an (26). This pipe (28) is for the purpose o filling the tank (26) to the top of the `level of the tank (26). At the bottom of the pipe (28) I have placed a petcock (29) for Athe'purpose off-letting the water out of the water pan (26) when it is desired that this bedone.V v-

, While I have described in detail a preferred embodiment of mv invention, it is understood thatI am not limited tcfthe details Vtherein set forth except as defined4 by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In' a humidifier adapted to be secured in a casing above`a radiator having air fms, parallel elongated water pans mounted on the side of said radiator, a cover to the'water pan with apertures therein, wicking sheets,

and wicking legs mounted in the same planes as the radiator-fins, said wicking sheets and f legs being maintained in the same planes as the radiator lins by inserting the wicking legs into the water pans through the aperturesm the water pan covers;

- 2. In ahumidifieradapted to be secured inl a casing above a radiator, having air fins, the combination of a water pan, wlcking sheets mounted inl substantially the same planes as the radiator iins, wickingl le s supporting the said wicking sheets, said wie ing legs depending in said water pan.

v 3. In a humidifier adapted'to be secured in a casing above a radiator having air fins, the combination of a water pan, wlckin sheets mounted in substantially the same p anes asv the radiator fins, wickin legs supporting the wicking sheets, said wicing legs depending in said' water pan, said casing having an'air inlet at the bottom, an air outlet at the top, and means outside the casing to filliand empty the water an.

y 4. In a umidifler adapted to/be secured in a casing above a radiator havinv Kair iins, the combination of a water pan, wicking sheets lisol mounted in substantially the same planes as` the radiator fins, wicking legs supporting the wicking sheets, said wicking legs depending in said water pan, and means to adjust the water level in the water pan. i

.5. ln a humidifier adapted to be secured in a casing above a radiator having air tins,

the combination of a water pan, wicking ysheets mounted in substantially the Same planes asthe radiator tins, said wicking sheet` having legs depending in saidwater pan and Supporting the wicking sheets, the said wicking legs being thicker than the wicking sheets.

, 6. In a humidifier adapted to be secured in a casing above a radiator having air fins, the combination' of water pans mounted on the s'ides of the radiator, wicking sheets and wicking legs mounted in substantially the same planes as the radiator fins, said wicking legs` depending into the said water pans, the casing enclosing the radiator and the humidiln witness whereof. I hereunto subscribe my name this 19 {la}v of Uctober, 1928.

REUBEN N. rIvRAE. 

